Character Analysis of Short Stories: English Literature, University

This assignment analyzes character transformations in three short stories: 'Touching Bottom,' 'The Chrysanthemums,' and 'A Marker on the Side of the Boat.' The analysis explores how the narrators or main characters' decisions and actions impact their lives and relationships. In 'Touching Bottom,' the narrator overcomes her fear of swimming, realizing her value through her actions. 'The Chrysanthemums' focuses on Elisa's emotional transformation and the consequences of her trust. 'A Marker on the Side of the Boat' examines Kien's regrets stemming from a decision made during wartime. The assignment highlights how choices influence characters' destinies and emotional states, emphasizing the themes of self-discovery, relationships, and the impact of past decisions.

Running Head: CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORIES
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORIES
In the short story, ‘Touching Bottom’, by Kari Strutt, shows how narrator’s own
decisions influenced her life. All through her life her father inspired her to be a good
swimmer and win races, but the narrator’ decision of marrying a wrong person refrained her
to accomplish the dreams of her father. Which is prominent in the words of the comment
made by narrator’s father about her husband, in the story-“His mid-life crisis will pass soon
enough and you’ll be stuck in California, like a fish out of water.”1 At the end of the story,
the narrator was able to fight with her phobia of swimming under the murky water without
being able to breath and saved the life of her step-son. Thus, an effective use of her
swimming tricks made her realise her real value, which in turn evoke narrator’s love for
swimming again. At this point of time again, her own decision transformed her life again.
In the short story, the ‘Chrysanthemum’ the author John Steinbeck represented the
central character Elisa as a quiet woman who sincerely devotes her time to her hoby which is
gardening. The story revolves round Chrysanthemum, the favourite flower of Elisa and
elisa’s relationship with” the man on the wagon seat”2. story revolves round Chrysanthemum,
the favourite flower of Elisa and elisa’s relationship with “The man on the wagon seat”3.
Elisa has a soft corner for the man. The author showed that the budding emotion of Elisa
transformed her from a practical and focused woman to an emotional woman, which reflected
in her lively and happy look. The evidence of this can be found lines in the words-“She put
1 Ninh, Bao. "A Marker on the Side of the Boat." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto: Gage Learning,
(2002). 60-67. Print.
2 Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto: Gage Learning,
(2002). 112-121. Print.
3

2
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORIES
on her newest underclothing and her nicest stockings and the dress which was the symbol of
her prettiness. She worked carefully on her hair, pencilled her eyebrows and rouged her
lips.”4 At the end of the story, the author showed how Elisa relates the act of devaluing
Chrysanthemum with the man’s lack of emotional attachment with her and felt lonely. Thus,
Elisa decision to trust that man give him her favourite Chrysanthemum are proved wrong and
turn her life into a misery.
The Marker on the Side of the Boat by Bao Nihns revolves round the life of Kien, a
Vietnamese man who was a soldier by profession. During his visit to Hanoi, Kien fall in love
with a young lady without seeing her face. Their courtship started during the turbulence
situation caused by Vietnam War. Observing, a series of incidences including bombing in the
city of Hanoi, Kien decided to leave the city. This decision kept him regretting. Which has
been reflected in the words-“But as it passed me, I gave a little start, as if my heart had just
been whipped. ; “I stalked back and forth on that street, brooding over my failure.”5 This
transformed Kien into a confused man repenting for not believing his instincts and left a long
lasting impact on his life.
References
Ninh, Bao. "A Marker on the Side of the Boat." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto:
Gage Learning, (2002). 60-67. Print.
4 Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto: Gage Learning,
(2002). 112-121. Print.
5 Ninh, Bao. "A Marker on the Side of the Boat." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto: Gage Learning,
(2002). 60-67. Print.

3
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF SHORT STORIES
Strutt, Kari. "Touching Bottom." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto: Gage
Learning, (2002). 124-131. Print.
Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." Imprints 12. Ed. Lori Farren. Vol. 1. Toronto: Gage
Learning, (2002). 112-121. Print.